CHECKERS TAKE GAME FOUR; DISALLOWED GOAL BURNS PENGUINS

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Chris Terry scored a power play goal at 2:01 of the third period and was all that goaltender Mike Murphy needed, as Terry’s goal was paired with Murphy’s 44 saves to help the Charlotte Checkers to a 1-0 victory over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Wednesday night at Time Warner Cable Arena in Game Four of the East Division Finals.

Both Penguins netminder Brad Thiessen and Murphy again turned in an impressive performance in goal.  Each team had two power play chances in the first period, but the penalty killing on both sides continued to dominate.  The Penguins had an apparent goal waved off when Ryan Craig chipped a loose puck underneath Murphy on the second power play chance, but the referee ruled incidental contact on Murphy.

The Penguins outshot the Checkers 14-11 after the first period.

The visitors’ best chance of the series to break a road power play drought came past the halfway point when they had 59 seconds of a two-man advantage.  A key block by Nicolas Blanchard on a Penguins point shot helped Brett Sutter return to the ice, and two saves by Murphy and a quick clear moments later capped off a gritty penalty kill by the Checkers.  The second period would end scoreless and chippy, with Corey Potter and Zach Boychuk earning double-minor penalties for roughing.

Keven Veilleux then took a penalty early in the third period which led to the Checkers’ goal.  The Penguins ultimately failed to clear the puck out of the defensive zone, and Bryan Rodney hurried the turnover to Terry at his left.  Terry’s wrist shot went through traffic and past Thiessen’s glove for the only goal of the contest.

Thiessen took the tough loss, giving up just one goal and making 31 saves to fall to 5-5 in the postseason.  Murphy improved to 6-2.

The Penguins ended the night 0-for-5 on the power play and 4-for-5 on the penalty kill.          

The Checkers now have a three games to one lead in the East Division Finals.

The two teams will face off for Game Five of the East Division Finals on Friday, May 6 at 7:00 pm at Time Warner Cable Arena.  If necessary, Game Six will be played back at Mohegan Sun Arena on Saturday, May 7 at 7:05 pm.  Individual tickets are on sale at the Mohegan Sun Arena box office, through any TicketMaster outlet, online at ticketmaster.com, or by calling 1-800-745-3000.

Ticket packages for the 2011 Calder Cup Playoffs are also currently available through the Penguins’ ticket offices by calling (570) 208-PENS.